Last or holder for lasting boots or shoes



(NollodeL) J. W. D. FIFIELD.

LAST OR HOLD ER FOR LASTING BOOTS OR SHOES. No. 296.154. 4 PatentedApr. 1.1884.

n es I lqva m. Wfi Wm J holding standard.

NITED, STATES ATENT rrrcn.

JOHN W. D. FIFIELD, OF NORTH BROOKFIELD, ASSIGNOR TO ALFRED H.

' BATOHELLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST OR HOLDER FOR LASTI NG BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,154, dated April 1, 1884.

Application filed December 11, 1583. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

1 Be it known that I, JOHN W. D. FIFIELD,

of North Brookfield, county of Worcester, State i of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve- 5 ment in Lasts or Holders for Lasting Boots or the crimped instep-covering portion of the,

front or vamp of a boot or shoe in its crimped shape while being lasted. Crimping the front 15 or vamp about a shoe stretches and curves it t to properly fit the top or highest part of the r foot; but when lasting such crimped front or vamp the closed upper is frequently so drawn upon the last and across the upper end of the block of the last as to contract the parts previously stretched by crimping. To obviate improper contraction of the upper above the ankle-joint or across the top of the foot when lasting the upper, I have provided the lastblock with an ankle-holding extension, herein shown as a loop or eye, extended back to the f heel of the last, and adapted to fit over thelast- My invention consists,essentially, in a last 1 30 having a block provided with an ankle-holding extension or prolongation,substantially as will i be hereinafter described and represented.

Figure 1 represents the upper or block side ofmy improved last, Fig. 2, a like view, but with the block removed; and Fig. 3 represents one of my improved lasts in'section, but applied to a standard, which serves the purpose fof keeping the last and its block in proper position with relation to each other with the bottom of the last uppermost, the position it i should occupyto have a front or vamp drawn over it in lasting or when securing the sole.

, My improved last is made in twoparts, and preferably of cast metal.

5. In .the drawings, A is the body of-the last,

I and B the block. The end of the block nearest terminating substantially at the line a? a", is prolonged or extended to form an ankle extension or portion, b which will preferably-be extended rearward, as at b across the neck [r of the body of the last, to form an extension for it, as best shown in Fig. 3. The part b of 5 5 the blockis herein shown as an eye or loop, and at its outer end is a lug, c, which enters a recess, 0 in theneck of the last, (see Fig. 2,) such lug and projection retaining that end of the block and-last from lateral movement the one of the other. The last-body is provided with an inwardly-curved locking-shoulder, d, and the inner side of the part b is curved to accord with the same, and both are grasped by the concaved part of the last-standardG, be-

the block is to be withdrawn, its removal is not, as with the common last-block, retarded or resisted by the binding of the leather across its top.

In lasting a crimped boot or shoe upper Oil an ordinary backward movement or sliding of w the block of the last causes the upper drawn about the same to be improperly contracted. The shoe or boot having been lasted and the shoe nailed or pegged in place, the operator will lift't-he last from the standard and remove the block B, and then again apply the last to y the standard, to hold it while the boot or shoe is pulled off the said last, the hook e of the last holding down the heel of the last while the 0' ward extension, b", to cover the neck a of the body of the last and prolong the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The body A of the last, combined with the last-block provided with the extension I) in loop form, to receive between it a standard, substantially as described.

4. The body A of the last, provided at its rear end with a recess, 0", combined with the 1ast-block provided at its outer end with a lug, c, to enter the said recess, substantially as described.

5. The standard G, provided with the hook 6, combined with the last having a recess'to be engaged by the said projection and with a 15 projection, 6 tobear upon the standard at its side opposite the said hook, to hold the last while the boot or shoe is pulled from it, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 20 to this specification in the presence of two sub- 7 scribing witnesses.

JOHN W. D. FIFIELD.

Witnesses:

BERNIOE J. NoYEs, W. H. SIGSTON. 

